Robert King is a photojournalist with ZUMA Press who covers news events around the world. What follows is a gallery of his recent work and commentary from 'Behind the Lens.'

Explosive Device
Iraq, June 2004
King: In June, I was embedded with the 1st Cav. We got a call that American soldiers needed help after hitting an IED. Two soldiers were killed. (ZUMApress.com)

Iraqi Detectives
Sadr City, Iraq
Feb. 24, 2004

King: I had returned to Iraq in February and wanted to illustrate the sacrifices the Shiites of Sadr City, who tried to make freedom and social order a reality. (ZUMApress.com)

Yushchenko Victory
Kiev, Ukraine
Dec. 27, 2004

King: As Americans, we take for granted many of our freedoms and progress. In the Ukraine, no small freedom is taken for granted. Ukrainians want the same freedoms we have in America and seek and end to the the Soviet-style rule influenced by Russia. (ZUMApress.com)

Mandean Cleansing
Baghdad, Iraq
March 28, 2004

King: The Mandaean Sabians' religion regard John the Baptist as their last prophet. This image is of a Mandean bride being cleansed before being married. (ZUMApress.com)

Fort Knox Training
Kentucky
Oct. 27, 2004

King: Another number or patriot? Baghdad is not a place anyone wants to go, but every day Americans obeying the call of duty and patriotism volunteer to become American soldiers -- willing to die in the fight against terror. (ZUMApress.com)

Al Hawza Protest
Baghdad, Iraq
March 31, 2004

King: Thousands of Iraqi Shiites took to the streets after the coalition forces shut down the Sadr revolt and closed the Al Hawza newspaper owned by Muqtada al Sadr. Most of the demonstrators wanted a free press and were angry that U.S. forces would not allow freedom of the press to exist in Iraq. (ZUMApress.com)

Wounds of War
Sadr City, Iraq
April 16, 2004

King: An improvised explosive device hit American soldiers on patrol outside of Sadr City. This soldier with the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry unit, cradles the weapon of his comrade who was wounded in the attack. (ZUMApress.com)

Shucking Peas
Mississippi
Aug. 6, 2004

King: Civil rights in America are extremely important, especially when our rights are being taken away one by one. In Money, Miss., the birthplace of civil rights, a farmer shucking peas told me the story of Emmett Till. (ZUMApress.com)

Ashura Bombing
Karbala, Iraq
March 2, 2004

King: I was in Karbala for the Islamic festival of Ashura banned under Saddam. The celebration ended with a suicide bomber. Amidst the chaos, a wife checked her wounded husband's heart to see if he was alive. To keep from being beaten by the angry crowd, I took photos as quickly as possible. (ZUMApress.com)

Heather Humbert
Baghdad, Iraq
March 17, 2004

King: This image of an Air Force senior airman was made for a story about women in the military stationed in Iraq. This was one of my favorite stories because it broke up the violence of Baghdad and allowed me to speak with American ladies while in Iraq. I found her blue eyes are as dangerous as her military weapon. (ZUMApress.com)

Shadow Boxer
Baghdad, Iraq
March 25, 2004

King: Regardless of the violence, most Iraqis love sports and were excited about the Olympics. I did a small feature about boxing in the Iraqi Olympic Stadium. During a shadowboxing training exercise, I made this image of a young Iraqi fighter raising his arms in victory. (ZUMApress.com)

Beal Street Rally
Memphis, Tenn.
Aug. 4, 2004

King: This photo was taken after returning to America after almost 6 months in Iraq. I was spending time with my family when John Edwards came to Memphis; during the rally the crowd sang the National Anthem. (ZUMApress.com)